EPISODE 118: OBLIVION 2

— Hall of Attributes, Year 7291. Season: Color Fading.

Madria stared into the Pool of Self-Reflection. The sunlight of the false sky was late on the horizon when they finally arrived at the pool toward the end of the next day. A medium size waterfall fell into the pool yet not a ripple crossed the surface. The pool itself remained completely still and appeared to be a perfect mirror to reflect the surrounding area.

Madria studied herself. She was… different… It wasn’t by appearance that said this, but her demeanor had changed. An air of maturity surrounded her—it was one that she recognized in herself. Her hair was longer, nearly touching her shoulders and far past what she normally kept it as. It was neat, but the evenly cut bob was no longer present as her hair grew uneven. While the golden highlights that represented the connection between her and the Goddess deepened. Her face was sharp, with high cheekbones and a small, square-shaped jaw. She had a small cute button nose and several piercings of gold decorated her ears.

Rustic golden eyes, with hints of brown gold divinity within them, stared back. She could feel the strong traces of her Goddess’s presence within her. She was here, always. Watching… protecting… and guiding the magi in all aspects of life. Even now, after her prayer to the Goddess, she guided her. Madria’s gaze traveled not just for her inclinations, but through her prayer for guidance in understanding Self… the Goddess answered. It was well known the Gamal were her most pious worshipers, and because of their long millenniums of worship… the Goddess rewarded them well.

Madria’s gaze turned from herself to the nature surrounding her, the spark of divinity attempting to tell her something. For a brief moment, her rustic eyes turned to Lawruthian, who sat before the pool much like her in a partial meditative state. The spark immediately guided her back, forcing her to focus. The immediate area surrounding the Pool of Self-Reflection was clear, the yellow-golden stalks of grass didn’t seem to grow to the edge of the pool. Instead, they hung several meters back, this allowed stone and desert sand to enclose the pool. A waterfall nearing twenty meters in height fell from above, and a rocky cliff face accompanied it.

“The Pool of Self-Reflection,” Madria whispered—a hint of understanding beginning to make its way into her mind.

She continued to study the area surrounding her, soaking up as many details as she could at that moment. She felt the cool summer breeze on her skin and the spray from the falling water. She inhaled the pleasant and clean air, untainted by the hands of men. The soft but resilient fabric made by the tailors of Union was against her skin, keeping her temperature regulated and precise. Madria felt the warmth of the fading sunlight as the not-quite night began to make its presence known.

When her eyes next returned to gaze at herself, she no longer just saw her-Self. Now, Madria saw everything. She saw the world of Genesis around her and how she was a part of that whole.

“It really is simple, ” Madria stated—understanding dawned upon her. “It’s so simple, I bet each House has discovered something related to each attribute already… From our lack of compassion, such information is kept and unshared between Houses. I understand why Lawruthian would go against the natural structure of Edryan. I understand now, why he created Imperius Academy and mixed commoners with nobles… banishing titles and doing his best to ‘even’ the chessboard.”

As Madria’s eyes met that of her reflection within the pool, she felt herself being drawn in, and… willingly… she fell. The brilliant light of her soul emerged as she entered her soulscape.

Rustic golden light with hints of brown shown from a black core with golden highlights. To Madria, she could only describe what she saw as the greatest proof of her Goddess’s power. Throughout the light, Madria could tell which parts were truly her, and what was from her Goddess. It was an… intriguing process watching her soul and how it connected to a power far beyond her own. She did not dare claim full ownership of her soul, as it would belong to the Promised Land upon her death.

Madria’s soul was a reflection. It told a story, one that was better expressed through it than what Madria could ever verbally describe. It was a mural of different parts made whole. Her core governed her Vitality and the points she put in it. The light was the representation of her Power and its length from her core before it lost its luster was her Endurance. Mind only now showed itself as the same color as Life-attributed mana. Wisps of its light could be found like stars as she gazed from her core and into the darkness surrounding it.

Here… in that darkness, it was the domain of Self and Intent.

Here… in that darkness, it was where Madria found the spark the Goddess guided her with.

It lit up the area, guiding Madria thus far. However, aside from providing light to the darkness, the spark remained still. Here, as were the other times when Madria had to comprehend an attribute, she would be alone. The spark the Goddess sent was only a guide, it did not govern her actions, just as the Goddess could not govern her. Neigh, for Madria willingly gave her worship to the Goddess. To her Mother of Magi… for She’d taken the burden of protecting the Genesis Realm. For She would do anything to keep Her flock safe.

“The darkness is lonely… it lacks the reflection of the outside,” Madria commented.

“How do I reflect what I saw outside within?”

The trials… they were simple. Each un-meant to be overly complicated, but… each easy to miss without the proper guidance.

Madria was no artist, but it was clear she needed to paint a scene that reflected the outside. One that would compliment her soul. One that could be found within the Realm of Genesis.

Madria’s thoughts immediately went to the places she found the most comforting. The home of Amaya, where the floating isles of the Musa showcased the might of magic and the effect a God’s death held. Their Gamal House compound, where she trained to be a healer with the multiple branches of her family. Imperius Academy… where she began to learn how to emerge from her sheltered self and interact with those outside of her noble circle.

She was no artist, but if she were to paint a picture that represented her… represented the Mortal Realm within her… then, she’d paint a scene that impacted her the most. It was a place she visited daily, and to Madria, the occurrence of the event held reinvigorated her faith within the Goddess and Her [Chosen].

A land, where it all began… on a day much like the one that passed. She recalled it vividly. The rush Amaya held her in. The escorting of their [Chosen] around the campus as they enjoyed their day off. As they enjoyed a celebration of life.

She recalled the feeling of Her presence. It was electric —like a boost of adrenaline coursing through your veins or an invigoration by potent Life-attributed mana. It was overwhelming —like when they were teleported away from Starglow Valley and Madria did everything in her power to keep Lawruthian alive. It was beautiful —like a fresh spring morning with the sun shining and birds chirping.

The picture she always wanted to see in her soul was that sanctified land and the apple tree that grew in it. It was where the Goddess descended to bless Lawruthian with her favor. The after-effects were tremendous, as the land grew holy—sanctified in the presence of Her. It was where Madria, and many of the students, surrounded daily in three mass prayers to their Goddess. It was a place she found the most comfortable, outside of home, outside of anywhere else.

Madria didn’t understand how, but that scene began to appear in her soul, and… with its appearance, changes were brought about.

The core, her soul, moved. It’s position no longer stayed centered surrounded by darkness. Now, it traveled upward—arcing over the scene of the sanctified land, the Imperius Requiem , as named by Lawruthian. Madria found its position appeared to be like that of the sun. Its nourishment provided light and energy to the small image in Madria’s soul. Nourishment, that began to transform the land. New parts emerged, different from the image in Madria’s heart.

The ground expanded and new trees appeared. Water came next, in the form of a moat that surrounded the island. Before once again the land emerged. The scene pushed into the darkness, but after extending nearly seventy-five feet, the expansion came to rest.

Madria looked around at the new changes in her soul. The spark, guidance sent by her Goddess, was gone. She knew it would be so, after all, she’d just accomplished their first goal. The scene surrounding the divine tree changed from its true appearance on the academy grounds. What Madria saw was a small clearing with a moat that surrounded the tree. Once land resumed, so did the small growing forest that surrounded the center. The core of her soul and it's light was centered above, like the sun at high noon.

Madria felt a change within her, and… understanding that her trial was complete, withdrew from her soulscape. She opened her eyes to the confirmation.

Congratulations!

You have passed the Trial of Self.

You have enhanced your understanding of the Self attribute and its connection with the Mortal Realm. Your regeneration restrictions have been released. All magic-based casting within the realm will be supported by 25%.

“Status Sheet,” Madria said, excited from what she read.

Madria Juud Gamal – Level 39

HP: 405/405

SP: 270/270

MP: 690/690

DP: 690/690

Base Atk: 68 (+25)

Base Def: 30 (+20)

HP Regen: 112/Hour

SP Regen: 75/Hour

MP Regen: 190/Hour

DP Regen: 190/Hour

Bloodline: [+]

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Main Class:

‎ [Imperius Saintess]

‎ Level: 25

Perks: -

Power: 135

2nd Class:

‎ [Gamal Life-Weaver]

‎ Level: 14

Core Skills: [+]

Vitality: 135

3rd Class: [LOCKED]

Racial Skills: [+]

Endurance: 90

Faith:

‎ Goddess Madris

Status Effects: [+]

Mind: 230

Affiliation:

‎ Imperius Academy

Equipped:

‎ Unionized Set

Self: 75

2nd Affiliation:

‎ House Gamal

Skills: [+]

Intent: 75

Achievements:

Divine Skills: [+]

Divine: 230

Worship: Revenant

Active Quest: [+]

Magic Affinity: Life 100%

Attribute Points: 0

She stood, a look of partial shock on her face.

“It’s more than doubled,” she began, the excitement rising. “I held forty-nine HP regeneration previously… its… if I can reach the next level of Worship and combine both Mind and Divine under one attribute…”

Her voice trailed off and slowly she sat. For a while, Madria stayed sitting, her mind processing everything she’d just done and her future path. She glanced over at Lawruthian, just in time for his eyelids to flutter. In the next moment, his closed eyes opened, an excited grin on his face. She watched as his eyes flickered back and forth, and Madria smiled. Assured that Lawruthian was also successful in his endeavor to understand Self.

“Congradulat-,” Madria began—unable to finish as Lawruthian abruptly stood, his body flashing before her eyes.

“Oomph,” she grunted, from the impact of the force, but no debilitating effects hurt her as Lawruthian’s Power was controlled. Dirt, water, and scattered stalks of grass blew into the wind as the area they were just sitting at was destroyed.

Black miasma clung to the ground in low waves—decaying all it touched. It moved swiftly and would be upon them in moments.

The moment Madria recovered enough to speak, she began chanting.

“ I call to thee Goddess, I call to thee Mother Madris, cast away the shadows with the light of your blade. Expel all evil from invading the body of your most pious worshipers, and give us the Power to resist… in this (Divine Purification)!”

Nearly a hundred of both regular and divine mana drained from Madria as two light golden-brown barriers flashed around her and Lawruthian.

It was not a second too late as the wave of black miasma hit them. Madria held her breath for a moment, fearing her spell may not be able to hold up to the aftereffects of the abrupt attack. A moment later she let out a sigh of relief as the barriers flashed once more and prevented any miasma from invading.

“It’s much smarter than anything I’ve seen before,” Madria commented as Lawruthian ran.

“I feared this may happen, but I believed we’d be able to complete our trials before it would hunt us,” Lawruthian responded. “Keep a lookout for where it is!”

Madria was now in a comfortable princess carry as Lawruthian ran. She nodded to his words as she prepared an offensive skill. She adjusted her position to stare behind Law. He’d swiftly entered the savannah and flashes accompanied his running in their dash away from the impact zone.

She could feel his accelerated heartbeat, but his calm demeanor provided a strong reassurance to Madria. They were close, so close as only one attribute remained unfinished before the remnant found them.

Madria’s eyes widened as Olvido emerged a few dozen meters behind them. The creature had yet to spot them escaping as it gazed down at the pool curiously. A single large eyeball on its bottom jaw gazed in what seemed like fascination. In that single moment, Madria felt it necessary to examine it while its attention was focused elsewhere.

“(Examine).”

[Raid Boss: Olvido – ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ]

Base Atk: 1023

Base Def: 468

HP: 14955/14955

SP: 7050/7050

MP: 8700/8700

HP Regen: 115/Hour

SP Regen: 54/Hour

MP Regen: 67/Hour

Power: 3410

Endurance: 2350

Vitality: 4985

Mind: 2900

Self: 1560

What she saw left her stunned. It was less than a week ago when they first encountered the creature, and in that time it’d nearly completed its evolution.

As the large eye of Olvido snapped toward Madria, its concentration broken, the creature began its chase.

“LAWRUTHIAN, WE CAN’T OUTRUN IT! WE HAVE TO FIGHT,” Madria screamed as she shared the notification.

She’d barely got the words out when Lawruthian paused and set her down.

“Run! Do not look back. Head for the pillar, do not argue—I can escape but not with you. Not if you’re in trouble. If all else fails, as long as you make it a distance away, I can teleport to you. The moment you make it to the pillar—do your best to comprehend Intent. We already had all the clues, it’s just getting the Prime System to acknowledge you,” Lawruthian commanded.

As he talked, he never once stopped moving. A large golem emerged before them, summoned outside of Lawruthian’s spatial bracelet. His temporary arm was tossed aside and into the bracelet, as a dozen small dirt golems emerged. They were no bigger than a fist, but she knew they packed a punch. A large bronze shield emerged before Lawruthian carefully took out a long-wrapped parcel that he began to unravel.

Madria didn’t argue and took off, but not before casting one last buff onto Lawruthian as he stepped into the Star Suit MK One. Her mind raced with the many possibilities of what was to come, but she’d seen the status sheet of Lawruthian’s suit. If not for the confidence in his crazy golem, then no number of words would have made her leave.

Stalks of golden-yellow grass whipped against Madria’s thighs and face. She ran, not out of weakness but trust. The wind howled, and the ground trembled as the force of an impact spread. Lightning crackled as strong storm clouds began to converge in the sky. Behind her explosions rang as Lawruthian fought.

Madria ran… , not because she couldn’t fight.

No…

She ran because she believed in him. They started this journey Lost, but together, they found strength within one another. She grasped the necklace she’d never once removed tightly, a warmth in her heart. There was one sole thought in her mind as she journeyed toward the Pillar of Power and Endurance.

“ LIVE! ”